Starcat

Hi Guys ! Thanks for the feedback. Yes, the problem with resisting to improve the game further can be difficult. For example, Star Alliance was first meant to be a simple space inavders clone. Now it is involving into a real space shooter. But it's nice to hear that there is interest in mini games. Regards, Lars.

Hi Guys ! I thought a little about the "Jaguar game developement and pre-existing graphic engines" thread. To be more specific, I thought about what Thunderbird said, that only so few people do new Jag games and that even mini games aren't done. This made me wonder if there is any interest in such mini games. Or if just nobody had the time/interest in doing such a game. When I think about mini games, titles like pong, breakout, space invaders and so on come to my mind. Would anybody like to play mini games on the Jag at all ? What Mini games would you like to see on the Jag ? Regards, Lars.

Hi ! Sorry about the post format. Accidently pressed "send" instead of "preview" Regards, Lars.

quote: Originally posted by Tyrant: Which just proves my other point, there isnt much info easily availible to wannabie jag developers. I did look into the possibility about a year ago, I tried to find as much documentation and info as I could on the net, and came up practically empty, I found a few of atari's docs, At that time the Jaguar Development Manual was already available on my site. quote: which I seem to remember were insanely complex and very low level, ISANELY COMPLEX ??? What are you talking about ? If I understood the parts I needed to without ANY previous programming knowledge it can't be so complicated. You can also learn Jag coding without even reading the manual. (a lot of the underground coders didn't have it) Just by reading examples and trying to understand them. quote: >but on the whole, I couldnt find much >>>practical newbie advice at all. It is a manual for coders. It's not "Jag coding for dummys" book. They expected that the coder knows the basics of coding. quote: >Not to mention that quite a lot of the reports are conflicting, you say the jaguar is a nice system to code on, and well documented, yet I've read in several places that its one of the hardest systems there is. A lot of people (especially the ones who failed) claim that the Jaguar is incredible hard to code. You can be sure that it is easy to code as long as you don't try to push the system to its limits. quote: >What we really need is an easy cheap way to get development kits, and distribution setups, There are enough ways: BJL, JUGS, Jag Server, JagOs, JagFree CD, JUGS DD etc. quote: We also then need a dedicated site that is well known just for jaguar programers, There is one. www.atari-jaguar64.de I think my site has the biggest collection of Jag Coding related infos and downloads on the net. quote: >with totorials on how to write simple games, moving on to the more complex articles on 3d engines and such, Just like Thunderbird said, there ARE tutorials and examples by Atari. Also for a 3D Engine. I could do tutorials for simple games anytime. But there were too many people, who took my program code and claimed that they did it. All of these wannabe "developers" failed and left the scene so far, but there is still a chance that it happens again and again. And why should somebody do an tutorial how to do a whole game ???? After all that is what coding is all about. If you can't think how to code something yourself you can't code. Tutorials can help you to understand how a system works, but it doesn't have to be a whole game. A little display example and things like that are enough. quote: >Im sure if all the active jag developers put in a little time to help out the newbies, and if the efforts were all coordinated and availible through a single easy to use website, we could have a whole flock of new jag games. No. This doesn't work because: 1) I tried that since I entered the Jag scene. With little to no success at all. 2) There are only very few coders 3) Those coders have hardly time for their projects, how could they work on examples and tutorials ?

Hi Thunderbird ! Yes, I'm sure today it is much easier to start Jaguar coding than in '94. I have benefited a lot from the dev kits, tools, examples and better docs. But the help of experienced Jag developers like Duranik have helped me a lot as well. Regards, Lars.

Hi MikeStlye ! Nice to see you here :-) I have to agree. Even though it takes a lot of time and effort to create a new game it is incredible fun to create something new, especially with a good team that supports you. About the rumor that Jag assembler is so difficult, I have to say, that my personal experience is completely different. For me Assembler is really easy. I learned it in a few months without any previous programming knowledge. I know the Jag assemblers (68k and GPU/DSP), but I really have no idea why so many people are talking about how complicated it is. I think especially people who haven't really tried it say things like that. I think Jaguar programming is really easy, as long as you do not try to push the system to its limits. (Pushing a system to its limits is always difficult.) I believe that ANYBODY who has enough time and interest can learn tp program the Jaguar. Regards, Lars.

Hi Thunderbird ! I am sure that a lot of Jaguar fans look at the Jaguar and some of its games through colored glasses. Otherwise they wouldn't pay that much for prototypes and things like that. I agree that SW2k is in very early state of development and extremely lacking in gameplay. It is also buggy. The only really great thing about the game are the graphics and to imagine how great the game would have been if it was completed. Phase Zero is a lot more playable but also lacking in gameplay and it's buggy. Yes, even simple games haven't been developed very far. I really wonder why, because games like pong or so could be done in really short time. The problem about this is most likely the lack of developers. It's also quite unsure what will happen in the next years, because who will develop games then ? I know that some of the current developers hardly have time to develop for the Jaguar. So even with JagFree CD and CD Bypass the future is as unsure as always since Atari abandoned the Jaguar. What most people (especially people who do not code) forget is that using an existing engine in a new game can also take ages, because understanding how the engine works is often essential. Regards, Lars.

Hi Guys ! I have talked to Marc a few months ago about this. He said that he would not give the source code away as long as there is still a possibility that they release another IS game for a system. He also said that he needed lots of months to understand the code again when he started again to finish IS2. Somebody who doesn't know the code at all would need ages if he understands it at all. I don't know if it really that complicated, but I could imagine that he's right. And who would spend that much effort to do a new game with the IS engine ? After all the Native Source Code was available for many months on my site and nobody tried to finish it. Why should somebody try to make a new game out of IS then ? Regards, Lars.

Hi Thunderbird ! I think it is great fun to create a game. I'm rather starting a game from scratch than using an existing engine. I really wonder why nobody does those little games... They can be done really fast. Regards, Lars.

Hi Guys ! Gunstar is right. The Jag has a very small but still growing cult of developers that continue developing and releasing Jag games. Even if it grows only very slowly and it takes very long to do and release a new game. I hope with the new tools like JagFree CD/CD Bypass of BSG and Prot SE and also JUGS and BJL more people will start Jag development. Anyway, Starcat Developments will do their best to bring at least one more high quality game to the Jaguar: Star Alliance - Battle for Earth. Regards, Lars.

Hi Gunstar ! Yes, I think exactly the same way ! People who are actually legally supporting the Jag should be supported and encouraged, not people who are ripping loyal Jag fans off. Regards, Lars.

Hi Thunderbird ! I'm not thinking about doing a 3D game for the Jag, but out of curiosity, how much would it cost to license the BS Engine ? I thought Gunstar was refering to Game/Graphic engines that Atari provided. Of course the Native engine could be used if you ask Duranik. They are really kind people. About Doom, I thought only the PC source code was public domain ? Is the Jag Source Code also public domain and available somewhere ? Regards, Lars.

Hi Gunstar ! There are no engines at all that could be used. There are a few Routines like JagPeg compression and BPEG available for Jag coders and some other examples, but that's it. But there are no game engines of other Jag games that could be used. Regards, Lars.

Hi Bolid ! No. It will still take quite some time till I release a demo of Star Alliance. (If I'm doing that at all) Jagulator can't run Star Alliance yet. Regards, Lars.

Thanks :-) I think I'll create movies once some levels are completly finished. Regards, Lars.

Hi Everybody ! There are even more great Jag News... I have uploaded another screenshot of Star Alliance - Battle for Earth, this time it's one of a sidescrolling level. I have also uploaded a better quality version of the last screenshot. Give them a look. Starcat Developments Regards,Lars.

Hi Guys ! To Bolid : I'm glad you like it Well, I had a moving 3D Starfield (stars fly towards the player) in the background for some time, but it was confusing for the player and I decided to use a moving 2D Starfield again. To Thunderbird: Lots of routines are done, but some still need optimisation and I often get new ideas that need to be ported. So on the Coding side a lot is already there and working fine, but only little level design is done so far. I think the design will take a lot of time. Regards, Lars.

Thanks The game will still take very long to finish, but I'm doing my best to make the game as good as possible. Regards, Lars.

Hi Everybody ! The Star Alliance Homepage has been updated. One of the new things that you can see there is a new screenshot of the game. There are also some great news, Michael Neihs of SULU Express is supporting the project from now on with music and sound effects. Give it a look: Star Alliance Homepage Regards, Lars.

Hi Everybody ! Nice to see that there is interested in my game. :-) I'm trying to answer all the question about it in this message, if you have more questions please e-mail me at: [email protected] 1. The complete game development is done in assembler. The 68k is used for game logic and some smaller tasks, while GPU does all the more performance consuming tasks like building the object lists, decompressing data etc. The DSP is used for Sound and Music. 2. I'm using the MADMAC to compile the code, ALN to link it to a binary and WDB to debug and test it. These are some of the official Atari tools. I also use the Atari graphics converting tools to convert .bmp images into .rgb files for the Jag. I use ICE compression to compres the .rgb graphics. 3. I'm not sure about the format yet. But I hope to do it for CD. 4. The game is a 2D space shooter. With some static and also some scrolling backgrounds depending on the level. I hope all your questions have been answered. Regards, Lars.